junk yard score and paint question
 

So I was looking for some used injectors at the u-pick so I can play with my new homemade pop tester but instead found a 300td wagon!
I scored a rear cargo retracting cover, A full first aid kit, a good wagon rear bumper (PO replaced mine with a sedan bumper=no reverse lights!), a bunch of little trim items and a rear hatch in good shape. The tailgate on my wagon has a dent that includes a creased section along the ridge formed next to the license plate. My question is what do you guys think will be cheaper-fix the dent myself (I’m pretty sure I can do it but am worried about that crease) and pay to have someone spray and blend the repaired area, or-have my dent free tailgate painted to match (it is gold, my car is beige)? Has anyone had just a door painted-what did you pay? I’m thinking If I sand and prep the new tailgate so all it needs is to be sprayed it shouldn’t cost very much-I mean earl shiebe will paint a whole car for a few hundred bucks. Also would my 82 300td have come with clear coat? On a side note what would a dent free tailgate be worth? (I may have an extra to sell once I sort this out) Thanks in advance :D

Unless you are sure of proper preperation meathods you might be better of paying the shop to do it right.......90% of a good paint job is in the prepareation........and that includes dent repair.

Where are you, sleeeper? that sounds like a nice find, how is the interior in that wagon?
I have a tailgate on my '85 TD that also has a little crease near the window, its in a spot that can;t be beat out from behind, and pulling it out with a welded wire is probably not gonna work, so I figured finding another tailgate would be the best solution unless I wanted a hunk of Bondo on my car.
I think painting it will be easy, masked off and shot on the car, a few hundred $ at most for a super job (if you find the right autobody shop).
Let me know if your selling a lid (man they are heavy and I hate thinking about shipping one!)